ATMs can charge you directly

From 3 March, a Reserve Bank reform of the payments system will allow ATM owners (not Police Credit) to directly charge you for using their ATMs.

This fee will vary from ATM to ATM and it will be withdrawn from your PC account at the time you withdraw your cash.

By making a few small adjustments you can ensure your banking remains fee free.

 Use your PC Visa debit card at any Westpac, St George, Bank SA ATMs or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre to withdraw cash. (Receive up to 10 free transactions per month.)

 Use EFTPOS for cash. In March we will increase your number of fee free EFTPOS transactions from 15 to 20 per month so you can get cash conveniently this way.

Locate ATMs:

 Westpac

 St George

Unlimited FREE transactions
pc.easynet (online banking)
Rapid Response (telephone banking)
Withdrawals at a PC branch
BPAY & BPAY View®
Using PC Visa debit card - press 'Credit' for all purchases
Direct debits and credits
Deposits at a PC branch
External transfers via pc.easynet & Rapid Response
Limited FREE transactions from 3 March 2009	Fee for each additional transaction
10 Westpac, St George, Bank SA or Indue WTC ATM (within Australia)	$1.80
20 EFTPOS cash/purchases – press ‘Savings’	$0.40
4 Visa over the counter cash advance (includes overseas ATMs)	$4.00
10 cheque withdrawals	$1.00

For more information call Member Response on 13 63 73 & press 3

Frequently asked questions

What is ATM direct charging?

ATM direct charging is part of a package of reforms developed by industry and the Reserve Bank of Australia. Direct charging is a change in the way you will be charged for accessing cash at ATMs. From 3 March 2009, the ATM owner will be required to advise you of the charge at the time of the transaction and you can choose whether or not to proceed with the transaction. You will be charged directly for using this ATM.

When will ATM owners start charging me directly when I withdraw cash?

ATM direct charging will be introduced on 3 March 2009.

How can I avoid ATM direct charges?

Police Credit has made arrangements to help you avoid direct charges. You will not incur these charges if you use a Westpac, St George or BankSA ATM, or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre. Please note that you will incur a direct charge from the ATM owner if you choose to use another ATM.

Will I have any free ATM transactions?

If you use a Westpac, St George or BankSA ATM, or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre, you can conduct up to 10 free ATM transactions per month. Please note that a fee message may still appear at the St George and BankSA ATMs, and the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre, even though you will not receive a direct charge. In addition, Police Credit has increased the number of fee free EFTPOS transactions from 15 to 20 per month to assist you to obtain cash when you are grocery shopping, buying petrol or purchasing goods etc.

How will I know if I incur a direct charge fee at an ATM machine?

For Westpac machines
Direct charge fees will not be incurred if you use a Westpac ATM so you will not receive any fee message at a Westpac machine; note should you exceed your 10 free ATM withdrawals per month then Police Credit excess transaction fees will be posted to your account by Police Credit at the end of the month.

For St George & BankSA machines
For the immediate short term until St George and Bank SA systems arrangements are in place a direct charging fee message will still appear. Please note Police Credit is absorbing this fee & you will not be charged at the ATM. However should you exceed your 10 free ATM withdrawals per month then Police Credit excess transaction fees will be posted to your account at the end of the month.

For all other (foreign) ATM machines
The ATM machine will advise you at the time of your transaction of the direct charging fee amount that will be immediately deducted from your account. The fee will appear, preceding the withdrawal amount, as a separate item, on your Police Credit statement at the end of each month & in your transaction history via pc.easynet.  

What happens if I exceed 10 free ATM transactions per month?

When using a Westpac, St George or BankSA ATM, or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre, our usual transaction limits apply. If you exceed these limits, you will incur a PC transaction fee of $1.80 for each additional ATM transaction. Your transactions will be tallied at the end of the month and transaction fees will be debited from your PC account. These fees will only apply if you have exceeded your 10 free (Westpac, St George or Bank SA ATM, or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre ATM) transactions per month.

How can I locate my nearest Westpac, St George or BankSA ATM?

You can use the links provided above and type in your location to find your nearest ATM. Or you can SMS 199 44 ATM for the nearest Westpac or St George ATM at a cost of 55 cents and will be billed by your mobile phone carrier.

There is no Westpac, St George or BankSA ATM nearby. How else can I avoid fees and charges?

Police Credit has increased the number of fee free EFTPOS transactions from 15 to 20 per month to assist you to obtain cash when you are grocery shopping, buying petrol or purchasing goods etc.

How will I know how much I am being charged for using another financial institution’s ATM?

From 3 March 2009, when you withdraw cash from another ATM (not a Westpac, St George or Bank SA ATM, or the Indue ATM at the World Trade Centre), a message will appear on the screen showing you how much you will be charged if you continue with the transaction. You will be asked if you want to proceed with the transaction and, if you decide to continue, the fee will be debited to your PC account at the time of the transaction. If you cancel, no fee applies.

When will the direct charge be applied?

If you decide to proceed with the transaction, the ATM owner will deduct the fee from your PC account at the same time you withdraw cash. It will be shown as a separate debit to the cash amount on your statement.

If I use another ATM, how will the charge appear on my statement?

If you proceed with the ATM transaction, your account statement will show ‘ATM operator fee’ and the amount charged.

Will I be charged the fee if I decide to cancel the transaction?

No. If you cancel the transaction, you won’t be charged a fee.

Are ATM requests for account balances or rejected attempts due to insufficient funds chargeable transactions?

Only completed ATM transactions, where you have consented to proceed with the transaction and withdrawn cash, will be included in your chargeable transactions. Please note ATMs cannot process requests for PC account balances and Police Credit is charged for every attempt you make. To check your account balances, call Rapid Response or log on to pc.easynet. If you are not registered for these services, call Member Response on 13 63 73.

I know I have available funds in my account but the ATM won’t process the transaction due to insufficient funds. Why?

If you are withdrawing cash from another ATM, make sure you have enough funds to cover the ATM operator fee, as it is debited from your account at the same time.